BRATTLEBORO-The results from the Charter Revision Committee's recent poll in Districts 7, 8, and 9 are telling: 66%, 78%, and 62% of respondents, respectively, expressed serious concerns about the Representative Town Meeting (RTM), noting its lack of effectiveness and transparency and its failure to reflect the will of the people.
These concerns are well-justified. Each RTM member represents 60 voters, based on 150 representatives for 9,000 voters. In the most recent budget vote, 11 members of the voting body abstained, effectively silencing the voices of 660 constituents.
This is unacceptable and raises a critical question: Are RTM members truly representing us, or just themselves?
It's no surprise that a majority in Brattleboro now supports abolishing the RTM. The real question is: What should replace it?
We believe the answer is clear: a shift to the Australian ballot system, a more inclusive, accessible, and democratic way to make decisions. Here's why:
• Working parents, shift workers, and those in precarious jobs often cannot afford to take a full day off to attend an open Town Meeting.
• Residents with mobility challenges, those who rely on public transportation, or those who avoid night or inclement-weather driving are effectively shut out from having their voice heard.
• Elderly and chronically ill residents may not be able to sit through meetings that stretch 10, 12, or even 14 hours.
• Those concerned about social pressure or backlash deserve the right to vote privately and without fear. This is particularly relevant to small-business owners who may face boycotts. Those who may feel intimidated by aggressive or dominant voices still deserve a place in our democratic process and should not be shut out simply because they are uncomfortable in contentious settings.
• The current RTM system gives disproportionate power to a few - with each member holding the weight of 60 votes. This directly violates the principle of "one person, one vote."
• RTM members have repeatedly voted in ways that raise questions about whose interests they serve. In the last budget debate, four voted to derail the entire effort, jeopardizing town operations, and 11 abstained. That's not representation; it's a failure to fulfill their responsibility.
It's time to move to a system where every voter's voice is heard - directly, equally, and securely.
Australian ballot voting works. Just look to neighboring Marlboro, where ballots are mailed to every voter. In 2024, 60% of registered voters participated - four times more than their open Town Meeting venue could even accommodate. What began as a temporary pandemic-era solution has become a well-supported, lasting improvement.
Brattleboro deserves the same, and the data shows that is what the people want. In the Charter Revision Committee survey, 59% favored the Australian ballot system, compared to just 41% who preferred the open Town Meeting.
Let's open the doors to more participation. Let's hear from everyone, not just the few. Let's restore the core American ideal of safe, private, and equal voting for all.
This November, vote to bring true democracy to Brattleboro.
To stay informed, sign up for updates by emailing OnePersonOneVote05301@gmail.com.
Jessica Doleszny
Brattleboro
This letter to the editor was submitted to The Commons.
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